Grease and oil skimmer and method of use thereof

Abstract

A grease and oil skimmer comprising externally and internally disposed scrapers and catch/collection pans and troughs that remove and collect oil, or the like, from the exterior and underside surfaces of an endless belt cooperatively-engaged over a motorized drive roller, idler roller and offset roller. The drive roller, idler roller and offset roller, provide structural enhancements that cooperatively function to limit surface-to-surface contact between the rollers and the underside of the belt; thereby, effectively reducing overall belt wear, and the transfer of oils and the like from the belt underside to the rollers. The present invention further provides a belt tension adjuster, loss of motor power alerts, and, in an alternate embodiment, adjustable spring-loaded scrapers.

1 . A wastewater skimming apparatus, comprising: 
 a series of rollers;    an endless belt cooperatively-engaged around said rollers, said belt comprising an underside and an exterior side;    a belt scraper assembly; and,    a collection assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said series of rollers is selected from the group consisting of a motorized drive roller, an idler roller, an offset roller, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each roller of said series of rollers comprises equally-spaced and raised rings that provide the only contact points between said rollers and said underside of said belt; thus, minimizing overall belt wear.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said belt is formed from an oleophilic material.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said belt scraper assembly comprises an ascending belt scraper disposed in pressure contact with said underside of said belt.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said ascending belt scraper is disposed at a downward angle relative to a ground surface to thereby facilitate gravitational flow and drippage therefrom of waste scraped from said belt.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said ascending belt scraper scrapes waste from said underside of said belt as said belt ascends and prior to said belt passing over a driver roller of said series of rollers.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the waste scraped from said underside of said belt gravitationally falls or drips from said ascending belt scraper onto or into said collection assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said collection assembly comprises an angled catch pan disposed below said ascending belt scraper and in fluid communication with an inner collection trough disposed proximate to said underside of said belt, and wherein said catch pan channels the waste into said inner collection trough.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said inner collection trough is disposed at a downward angle relative to a ground surface to thereby facilitate gravitational flow and drainage of scraped and collected waste therefrom into a central drainage trough.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said belt scraper assembly comprises a first descending belt scraper disposed in pressure contact with said underside of said belt.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first descending belt scraper is disposed at a downward angle relative to a ground surface to thereby facilitate gravitational flow and drippage therefrom of waste scraped from said belt.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said first descending belt scraper scrapes waste from said underside of said belt as said belt descends and prior to said belt passing over an idler roller of said series of rollers, and wherein the waste is collected by said collection assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said collection assembly comprises a first trough-forming wall disposed on said first descending belt scraper, wherein waste scraped by said first descending belt scraper is caught by said first trough-forming wall and, thereafter, gravitationally channeled into a central drainage trough.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said first descending belt scraper comprises a hinged base, said hinged base functioning to facilitate the gravitational abutment or pressured-contact of said first descending belt scraper against said underside of said belt.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said hinged base of said first descending belt scraper further enables said first descending belt scraper to be pivoted out of contact with said belt to provide access thereto.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said belt scraper assembly further comprises a second descending belt scraper disposed in pressure contact with said exterior side of said belt.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said second descending belt scraper is disposed at a downward angle relative to a ground surface to thereby facilitate gravitational flow and drippage therefrom of waste scraped from said belt.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said second descending belt scraper scrapes waste from said exterior side of said belt as said belt descends and prior to said belt passing over an idler roller of said series of rollers, and wherein the waste is collected by said collection assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said collection assembly comprises a second trough-forming wall disposed on said second descending belt scraper, wherein waste scraped by said second descending belt scraper is caught by said second trough-forming wall and, thereafter, gravitationally channeled into said central drainage trough.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said second descending belt scraper comprises a hinged base, said hinged base functioning to facilitate the gravitational abutment or pressured-contact of said second descending belt scraper against said exterior side.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said hinged base of said second descending belt scraper further enables said second descending belt scraper to be pivoted out of contact with said belt to provide access thereto.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge tube in communication with said collection assembly.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt tension adjuster.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said belt tension adjuster comprises adjustment screws in contact with a first roller of said series of rollers, wherein rotation of said adjustment screws adjusts tension of said belt.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , where said belt tension adjuster comprises a fixed-position adjustable base disposed below, and in contact with, a motor driving a first roller of said series of rollers.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a loss of power to motor alert.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said belt scraper assembly comprises adjustable, spring-loaded belt scrapers.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said series of rollers is selected from the group consisting of a series of pulleys, and a combination of rollers and pulleys.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said series of pulleys are cooperatively-engaged within a guide rail disposed on said underside of said belt.  
   
   
       31 . A wastewater skimming apparatus, comprising: 
 an endless belt disposed around a series of rollers to thereby define an inner belt area and an outer belt area, said belt comprising an underside and an exterior side;    at least one inner belt scraper positioned within said inner belt area and disposed in pressure contact with said underside of said belt;    at least one outer belt scraper positioned within said outer belt area and disposed in pressure contact with said exterior side of said belt;    at least one inner collection trough positioned within said inner belt area and associated with said inner belt scraper; and    at least one outer collection trough positioned within said outer belt area and associated with said outer belt scraper.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said inner belt scraper scrapes waste from said underside of said belt as said belt cyclically ascends.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said inner belt scraper scrapes waste from said underside of said belt as said belt cyclically descends.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said outer belt scraper scrapes waste from said exterior side of said belt as said belt cyclically descends.  
   
   
       35 . A method for removing oil, grease, fat, solid particulate and similar waste materials from a body of water, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a. cycling an endless belt through the body of water to thereby draw the waste onto an underside and an exterior side of said belt;    b. scraping the waste from said underside and said exterior side of said belt as said belt cyclically ascends and descends.